Leveler for paving machine

ABSTRACT

A leveling attachment for pavers and the like mounted forward of the tracks or wheels and engageable with the ground so as to define a leveled path. The attachment includes a depending pivotally mounted front wall spring-loaded so as to resist rearward movement and provide a flexing action to loosen and move encountered materials. The front wall is laterally inclined so as to inwardly direct the material and is vertically adjustable.

nited States Patent [191 Gendrich [54] LEVELER FOR PAVING MACHINE [76] Inventor: James A. Gendrich, R.R. No. 2, Box

245, Burlington, Wis. 53105 221 Filed: Mar. 1, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 119,690

[52] [LC Cl ..404/118 [51] Int. Cl ..E01c 19/22 [58] Field 01 Search ..94/44, 45, 46;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 414,511 11/1889 Fisher ..104/279 X 2,105,416 1/1938 Hansen ..104/279 2,114,721 4/1938 Midgley.... ..104/279 2,945,427 7/1960 Gerk ..94/45 R 1,759,251 5/1930 Clausen ..94/45 R 1,611,412 12/1926 Carr ..94/45 R 2,006,316 6/1935 Mandt ..94/44 2,832,273 4/1958 (alabrese ..94/46 R Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. Att0rney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A leveling attachment for pavers and the like mounted forward of the tracks or wheels and engageable with the ground so as to define a leveled path. The attachment includes a depending pivotally mounted front wall spring-loaded so as to resist rearward movement and provide a flexing action to loosen and move encountered materials. The front wall is laterally inclined so as to inwardly direct the material and is vertically adjustable.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY' 81w 3,732,024

SHEET 1 [1F 2 James A. Gendric/r BY WWW PATENTEUHAY' 8l975 SHEET 2 OF 2 James A. Gena'rich lNIENTOR Wm/eyfi Aim! BY MIA LEVELER FOR PAVING MACHINE The present invention generally relates to leveling devices, and is more particularly concerned with a leveling attachment uniquely adapted for use on an asphalt paving machine for maintaining the roadbed clear in front of the traveling supports therefor, whether such be endless tracks or tires.

In modern asphalt paving operations, the paving is performed by a paving machine which is continuously operated along the roadbed. The asphalt paving machine is serviced by dump trucks which back up to the operating machine and dump their loads in front of the paver into a hopper. During this dumping operation, clods of asphalt tend to fall from the dump truck to the roadway, often in front of the tracks or tires of the paving machine. These clods must be removed in order to not interfere with the preleveled orientation of the paving machine. Presently, the removal of the clods is effected by two laborers who stand on each side of the asphalt paver and shovel the clods out of the way as the paver advances.

It is a primary intention of the instant invention to provide a leveling attachment which mounts directly on the paver forward of each track and automatically scrapes the misplaced asphalt toward the center of the machine where it is mixed with the major portion of the operation and utilized in forming the road.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to provide a leveler which effectively operates so as to loosen and move the asphalt clods, regardless of the tendency for such clods to adhere to the roadbed.

Basically, the attachment of the instant invention includes a flat top mounting plate pivotally mounted along the rear edge thereof the the forward portion of a paving machine. The forward edge of the mounting plate is angled inwardly toward the center of the paver and pivotally mounts therealong a depending scraping wall. The scraping wall includes a vertically adjustable lower section with the wall being resiliently biased forward by a pair of enlarged compression springs engaged between the front wall and a relatively shorter depending rear wall. Forward swinging of the scraping wall is limited by engagement of the upper edge of the wall with the overlying mounting plate.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the attachment secured to the forward portion of a paver or paving machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the mounted attachment;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the mounted attachment, with portions of the vehicle broken away for Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the leveler or leveling attachment comprising the instant invention. This attachment 10 includes a flat upper mounting plate 12 having opposed parallel side edges 14, a rear edge 16 extending perpendicularly therebetween, and a front edge 18 converging slightly toward the rear edge 16 from one side edge 14 to the other side edge 14. More particularly, depending on the side of the paver 20 on which the attachment is to be mounted, the front edge inclines inwardly either to the right or the left toward the centerline of the paver 20.

The forward portion of the mounting plate 12 includes a pair of transversely orientated hinge sleeves 22 welded to the undersurface thereof parallel to the inclined front edge 18 for the pivotal mounting of the scraping front wall 24. This front wall 24 includes an upper plate 26 incorporating a centrally located hinge pin sleeve 28 along the upper edge thereof which is received between the sleeves 22 for a pivotal mounting of the plate 26 to the overlying top plate 12 by the introduction of an elongated hinge pin 30. The scraping front wall 24 also includes a second lower plate 32 adjustably bolted to the plate 26 by three bolts 34, each engaged through a bolt hole 36 in the plate 32 and an aligned vertically elongated slot 38 in the plate 26. Appropriate nuts and lock washers are utilized in conjunction with the bolts 34 to clamp the plate 32 in a vertically adjusted position relative to the plate 26.

With reference to FIG. 5, it will be noted that the hinged mounting of the front wall 24 is effected parallel to and slightly to the rear of the inclined forward edge 18 of the top plate 12. In this manner, the upper edge 40 of the top wall plate 26 will, upon a forward pivoting of the forward wall 24, engage against the undersurface of the top mounting plate 12 and constitute a means for limiting the forward pivoting of the front wall 24 at a point slightly forward of a true vertical orientation. I

The front wall 24 is resiliently biased into this forwardmost swung position by a pair of enlarged coiled compression springs 42 affixed to and engaged between the rear of the upper plate 26 and a parallel rearwardly located rear wall 44. The rear wall 46 is rigidly affixed to the undersurface of the top mounting plate 12 and depends therefrom to a point located well above the lower edge of the front wall plate 26. The compression springs 42 incline upwardly and rearwardly from the front wall plate 26 whereby a substantially linear force is provided on the pivotally swingable front wall 26.

The mounting of the top mounting plate 12, and hence the entire attachment 10, on the vehicle 20 is effected by aligned hinge pin sleeves, one, designatedby reference numeral 46, affixed to the upper surface of the plate 12 along the rear edge 16 thereof, and two, designated by reference numeral 48, affixed to the forward portion of the vehicle 20. An appropriate hinge pin 50 is extended through the aligned sleeves 46 and 48 to effect the pivotal mounting of the attachment 10. This hinge pin 50 will preferably include an enlarged loop handle 52 on one end thereof and an appropriate retaining means 54 on the second end thereof. Support of the forward portion of the attachment 10 is effected by an adjustable link chain 56 engaged between the swingable forward portion of the-attachment 10 and the vehicle 20 rearwardly and upwardly therefrom.

In actual use, one attachment will be provided to each side of the paver forward of the traveling support means, whether this be endless tracks or tires. Each attachment will have the front wall 24 thereof inclined or angled inwardly toward the center of the paver whereby encountered obstructions, normally clods of asphalt, will be loosened and moved inwardly toward the paving portion of the vehicle 20. Prior to use, the front wall will be vertically adjusted so as to properly engage the roadbed and effect the desired scraping action.

The spring-loaded mounting of the front wall 24 is considered particularly significant in that were this wall rigid, there would be a tendency for the wall to ride over the stuck clods rather than effecting a loosening and inward shifting of these clods. The movable wall 24, contrary to the action which would be effected by a fixed blade or wall, tends to shift and move, and thereby work the clods loose. Likewise, the ability of the front scraping wall to flex facilitates a movement thereof over road expansion joints, and other surface irregularities such as might be encountered when resurfacing a pavement.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique device has been defined. This device, in the nature of an attachment, is mountable on the forward portion of a paver and functions in a manner so as to provide a level clear path for the paver track or tires, eliminating the necessity of using hand labor. The attachment, while structurally simple, is highly unique, structurally stable and efficient in operation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A leveling attachment for pavers and the like, said attachment comprising a top member having a forward edge and a rear edge, a front wall depending from said member adjacent the forward edge thereof, means pivotally securing said front wall to said member for forward and rearward swinging movement, means limiting the forward swinging movement of the front wall, a rear wall depending from said top member generally parallel to said front wall, biasing means resiliently resisting rearward swinging of the front wall, said biasing means comprising enlarged coil compression springs engaged between said front and rear walls, and mounting means for mounting said top member on a paver in a manner whereby said front wall depends into engagement with the ground forward of the paver to define a clear path therefor.

2. The attachment of claim 1 including an upper edge on said front wall engageable with the top member upon a forward swinging of said front wall beyond a predetermined point, said upper edge constituting the means for limiting the forward swinging of the front wall.

3. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said front wall includes a vertically adjustable lower plate.

4. The attachment of claim I wherein said front wall is transversely angled to effect a laterally inward directmg of encountered material out of t e path of the traveling support means of the vehicle.

5. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said front wall is transversely angled to effect a laterally inward directing of encountered material out of the path of the paver, said front wall including a vertically adjustable lower plate.

6. In combination with a paver or the like incorporating traveling support means along the opposed sides thereof, a leveling attachment mounted forward of each of said traveling support means, each attachment including a first depending wall generally vertically orientated and angled inwardly transversely across the path of the corresponding traveling support and toward the center of the paver, means pivotally mounting said first depending wall for forward and rearward swinging movement, means limiting the forward swinging of said first depending wall, a second depending wall disposed rearwardly of said first depending wall, and biasing means resiliently resisting rearward swinging of said first depending wall, said biasing means comprising enlarged coil compression springs engaged between said first and second depending walls.

7. The construction of claim 6 wherein said front wall is vertically adjustable.

8. A leveling attachment for pavers and the like, said attachment comprising a top member having a forward edge and a rear edge, a front wall depending from said member adjacent the forward edge thereof and transversely angled to effect a laterally inward directing of encountered material out of the path of the paver, said front wall including a vertically adjustable lower plate, means pivotally securing said front wall to said member for forward and rearward swinging movement, means limiting the forward swinging movement of the front wall, said limiting means comprising an upper edge on said front wall engageable with the top member upon a forward swinging of said front wall beyond a predetermined point, a rear wall depending from said top member generally parallel to said front wall, biasing means resiliently resisting rearward swinging of the front wall, said biasing means comprising enlarged coil compression springs engaged between said front and rear walls, and mounting means for mounting said top member on a paver in a manner whereby said front wall depends into engagement with the ground forward of the paver to define a clear path therefor.

i t t 8 t 

1. A leveling attachment for pavers and the like, said attachment comprising a top member having a forward edge and a rear edge, a front wall depending from said member adjacent the forward edge thereof, means pivotally securing said front wall to said member for forward and rearward swinging movement, means limiting the forward swinging movement of the front wall, a rear wall depending from said top member generally parallel to said front wall, biasing means resiliently resisting rearward swinging of the front wall, said biasing means comprising enlarged coil compression springs engaged between said front and rear walls, and mounting means for mounting said top member on a paver in a manner whereby said front wall depends into engagement with the ground forward of the paver to define a clear path therefor.
 2. The attachment of claim 1 including an upper edge on said front wall engageable with the top member upon a forward swinging of said front wall beyond a predetermined point, said upper edge constituting the means for limiting the forward swinging of the front wall.
 3. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said front wall includes a vertically adjustable lower plate.
 4. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said front wall is transversely angled to effect a laterally inward directing of encountered material out of the path of the traveling support means of the vehicle.
 5. The attachment of claim 1 wherein said front wall is transversely angled to effect a laterally inward directing of encountered material out of the path of the paver, said front wall including a vertically adjustable lower plate.
 6. In combination with a paver or the like incorporating traveling support means along the opposed sides thereof, a leveling attachment mounted forward of each of said traveling support means, each attachment including a first depending wall generally vertically orientated and angled inwardly transversely across the path of the corresponding traveling support and toward the center of the paver, means pivotally mounting said first depending wall for forward and rearward swinging movement, means limiting the forWard swinging of said first depending wall, a second depending wall disposed rearwardly of said first depending wall, and biasing means resiliently resisting rearward swinging of said first depending wall, said biasing means comprising enlarged coil compression springs engaged between said first and second depending walls.
 7. The construction of claim 6 wherein said front wall is vertically adjustable.
 8. A leveling attachment for pavers and the like, said attachment comprising a top member having a forward edge and a rear edge, a front wall depending from said member adjacent the forward edge thereof and transversely angled to effect a laterally inward directing of encountered material out of the path of the paver, said front wall including a vertically adjustable lower plate, means pivotally securing said front wall to said member for forward and rearward swinging movement, means limiting the forward swinging movement of the front wall, said limiting means comprising an upper edge on said front wall engageable with the top member upon a forward swinging of said front wall beyond a predetermined point, a rear wall depending from said top member generally parallel to said front wall, biasing means resiliently resisting rearward swinging of the front wall, said biasing means comprising enlarged coil compression springs engaged between said front and rear walls, and mounting means for mounting said top member on a paver in a manner whereby said front wall depends into engagement with the ground forward of the paver to define a clear path therefor. 